Skip to main content
Normal View

Cross-Border Co-operation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Questions (458, 459)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

458. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline projects on which his Department co-operates with the Department of Justice in the North. [54160/12]

View answer

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

459. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline projects on which his Department cooperates with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in the North. [54161/12]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together.

The work of my Department in relation to North-South co-operation arises primarily in the context of criminal justice co-operation and is carried out across a range of Divisions in my Department depending on the nature of the work involved. I am and my officials are frequently and closely engaged with our counterparts in Northern Ireland in respect of a wide range of matters relating to North-South criminal justice co-operation. The Deputy will be aware that under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Co-operation on Criminal Justice Matters I meet regularly with David Ford to discuss criminal justice matters of mutual interest or concern in the two jurisdictions; to consider the scope for and develop plans to achieve more effective co-operation and co-ordination on criminal justice matters between the two jurisdictions; to oversee and give direction to the work of the Working Group of senior officials; to exchange information on other criminal justice initiatives taking place in both jurisdictions, and to approve and review progress against the annual work programmes on criminal justice co-operation.

The Agreement established a Working Group of senior officials comprising representatives of my Department, the Northern Ireland Department of Justice and the various criminal justice agencies from both jurisdictions. Its remit is to take forward current co-operation and to identify other areas in which co-operation on criminal justice matters could be enhanced or initiated. A number of project groups established by the Working Group are taking forward a range of co-operation initiatives in relation to forensic science, registered offenders, probation and rehabilitation, victim support, youth justice matters and social diversity.

Outside of the framework of the Intergovernmental Agreement, the officials of my Department maintain regular and productive interaction with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department of Justice and the various other Departments of the Northern Ireland Executive, depending on the particular issue at hand. In addition, the officials of my Department maintain close and ongoing contact with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Department of Justice in regard to the security situation and the ongoing threat posed by criminal terrorists.

Top
Share